Training Camp: Bobrovsky Solid in Flyers Debut

All through rookie camp, all through the early stages of Training Camp, there has been one name that has intrigued many a Flyers fan and left the group referred to as “Hockey’s most intimidating” searching for glimpses of this particular individual.

The Flyers may have found a diamond in the rough in "Bob"

If you have been able to make the trip to Vorhees over the past week, chances are you’ve probably seen him. Chances also are that you struggle mightily to quickly pronounce his name when talking about him. However, if, like myself, all you’ve done over the past couple weeks is read about Sergei Bobrovsky, then last night presented the first opportunity to see the man with all the hype attempt to live up to it in his Philadelphia Flyers debut.

25 minutes of shutout hockey coupled with leading the Flyers to a shootout victory in their preseason opener certainly laid the foundation for the Bobrovsky fan frenzy for at least the foreseeable future.

While Michael Leighton got the nod last night as the Flyers began their preseason slate against the New Jersey Devils, all the buzz on the message boards, blogs, and Twitter was centered around a simple question: “When are we going to see this Bobrovsky kid?” Fans got their wish as the puck dropped to begin the third period as the 22-year-old Russian ‘tender finally made his first appearance in a National Hockey League game wearing a Flyers uniform. Despite the fact that “Bob” didn’t see a shot for almost the first nine minutes he was in the game, he was solid when called upon in the third frame, stopping all five shots he faced, as well as turning away the two shots thrown his way in overtime. Jason Arnott muscled a wrister by Bobrovsky in the shootout, but the rookie was otherwise perfect and stopped every shot he faced.

Today, on CSNPhilly.com, Sarah Baicker has more on the Russian netminder who’s hard-to-pronounce name is suddenly flowing freely off many of the franchise’s fans tongues. She talks about his performance in last night’s victory, as well as his well-documented – albeit incredible – athleticism and quickness and even some interesting superstitions the young goaltender has. To learn more about this seemingly budding star right before our eyes this preseason, give Sarah’s article a look.